Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin E. Moulton Page B

before?” Sydney asked, scowling.
    Lil nodded. “Many times.” She placed a finger in the dirt and quickly laid out their plan.”We’ll all do the rope swing. It’s lowest to the ground.” She scribbled a squiggly rope with a loop at the bottom. “Then we’ll all do the balance log. The initiative wall is the hardest low-ropes course, but it’s still close to the ground. If Kat and Sydney can do that one, Charlie and I could prep for the high course.”
    Kat rubbed her palms together. “I can do the initiative wall. My mother says I have strong hands and arms.”
    â€œI’ll try,” Sydney said.
    â€œNice,” Lil said. “Charlie and I will have made our way over to the high course while you are doing this. You’ll run to tag us, then Charlie.” She drew big squares in the sand. “You’ll climb and cross the raiders’ bridge and roll down this cargo net.”
    â€œOkay.” Charlie’s nostrils flared as she took a deep inhale. “Then I’ll tag you.”
    â€œRight,” Lil said. “You’ll tag me and I’ll climb the rock wall and go down the zip line.” She drew a long swaying line in the dirt. “Is that manageable?” She looked up at the others. “The problem is that this leaves me alone on the other side of the zip line with a clue, which I bet Charlie would be the most equipped to answer.”
    â€œJe suis désolée,”
Charlie said, staring at the zip line. “I don’t—”
    â€œWhat do you mean? You already know the final answer,” Sydney said.
    Lil looked over at her, confused.
    â€œOne minute, teams!” Bente said from the center of the three groups.
    â€œYou heard Bente: she said that there is often an advantage to staying in Hall D. All that history. The only myth we haven’t covered yet is . . .” Sydney scowled as if working out a math problem. “The one above your door.”
    â€œAriadne,” Lil said. “Of course.”
    â€œBut what if it’s not?” Kat said. “What if the relation to our dorms has been coincidental?”
    â€œTen seconds, people!” Bente shouted.
    Sydney shrugged. “Is anyone else going to fly?”
    The others shook their heads.
    â€œThen it doesn’t matter, does it?” Sydney said.
    â€œAnd let’s move!” Bente shouted, blowing her whistle. “Team A! You’re up!”

13
    T hat’s exactly six minutes and fifty-seven seconds,” Sydney said, staring at her watch. “Is that a good time?” she asked, turning to Lil.
    Lil watched as Vivi disappeared at the end of the zip line, landing perfectly and running out of sight into the trees. “It’s good,” Lil nodded, gulping. Good? It was nearly flawless.
    â€œShe still has to answer the riddle correctly and get to the right destination, remember?” Charlie said.
    They waited, the wind shifting through the trees, making the flags on the course billow and flap. Just then a green flare went up, and the rest of Team A started cheering. Bente, who was standing at the base of the rock wall with her belay on, clapped and then sent up a whistle by sticking two of her fingers in her mouth.
    â€œNice work, Team A!” She leaned into her walkie-talkie and then turned back to the others. “Seven thirteen is the time to beat. I hope you still have your legs, ladies!”
    Lil’s mouth went dry, and the sun felt hotter now than when they had been running up the hill. She pulled her water bottle from her waist and took a long sip.
    â€œTeam B, you’re up!”
    Lil watched as they prepared themselves for the rope swing. They had the same technique that Lil would use, hooking a knee to keep all appendages off the ground.
    â€œWatch closely,” Lil said, leaning toward Sydney and Kat. “We want to do that exactly.”
    They nodded and